News

The Mighty Eighth

2/24/2017

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B-1 Lancer from Dyess AFB, Texas, a B-2 Spirit from Whiteman AFB,
Mo., and a B-52 Stratofortress from Minot AFB, N.D., rehearse
formations moments before performing a bomber trio in-trail flyover at
Barksdale AFB, La., Feb. 2, 2017. The all-bomber flyover took place to
commemorate the Eighth Air Force’s 75th Anniversary. Eighth Air Force,
also known as “The Mighty Eighth,” which dates
back to World War II, houses all of the Air Force’s nuclear-capable and
conventional bomber fleet. The Eighth Air Force, which is in charge of nuclear
and conventional bombers and is made up of five bomb wings at different
locations, is one of two Active Duty numbered
air forces with the Air Force Global Strike Command. The numbered air force traces its
lineage to the VIII Bomber Command, which was activated
on Feb. 1, 1942, at Langley Field, Va. VIII Bomber Command was
re-designated as Eighth Air Force on Feb. 22, 1944. (Air Force
photo courtesy of Sagar Pathak.)(Click on image above to reach wallpaper version.)